Project
Installation of motorized conveyors and automatic sorters
Installation of motorized conveyors and automatic sorters
Orchestra Premaman
North of France
Orchestra Prémaman is a chain of stores selling clothing for pregnant women and children as well as childcare accessories. Created in 1995, the company is today based in Montpellier. It employs more than 2,500 people and has around 300 stores distributed mainly between France, Belgium and Switzerland. In 2020, the company announced the centralization of its logistics activities in Arras in its 120,000 m² warehouse with the ambition to considerably strengthen its digital activity by 2024.
Orchestra Prémaman wishes to move its warehouse from the south to the north of France by carrying out a complete retrofit of its sorting and conveying system. The sorter and conveyors have been fully optimized and automated to process order preparation, store replenishments and returns with a precision and speed that meets the brand's objectives.
TRANSITIC has installed a large network of conveyors, one kilometer long, and an automatic double-tray sorter specially adapted to textile articles and accessories.
The automatic sorter was already present in the old Orchestra warehouse. It was dismantled then entirely optimized and modernized by our teams, in collaboration with our partner Equinox MHE. A way for Orchestra to limit its costs by reusing an existing machine while limiting its environmental impact. To meet the customer’s new objectives, the sorter has been revised on several points:
– It is now equipped with tilting trays that direct the items to their designated exit stations. At their destination, the trays open to drop the items directly into their container: bin, bag or carton…
– The sorting chutes can now handle carton boxes as well as flexible containers.
– The chutes have been fitted with chutes under the tilting trays, which can direct products to 2 separate destinations, optimising sorting flexibility throughout the system.
– The sorter has been reinstalled with 8 injection stations, enabling operators to introduce items according to the instructions on their connected screen. The chutes are equipped with the Pick-to-Light system, which guides operators in their actions and minimises the risk of errors.
At maximum speed, the sorter can process up to 14,400 items per hour.
”As a result, the sorting process runs more smoothly and human error is reduced to almost zero. On average, the sorter processes more than 150,000 items a day for shops or e-commerce customers. Its oval layout optimises the use of all the space available.
Alongside the automatic sorter, a large network of conveyors – both overhead and on the ground – has been installed. This is complemented by two telescopic conveyors that unload the lorries and automatically feed the conveyors. These conveyors generate flows that distribute the parcels to different parts of the warehouse:
– Distribution of parcels to the 8 stations for storing items in the racks
– Feeding the sorting comb at reception
– Automatic feeding of the sorter
– Recirculation of empty bins and feeding of stations
– Feeding the sorting comb in the E-Commerce zone
”Result: Warehouse space is exploited to the full. The automation of the system, connected to the control software, ensures continuity, regularity and total monitoring of performance.